There are few things in life, if any, harder than losing a loved one. I simply cannot imagine the pain of losing the one you loved most. For one widow who recently lost her spouse, United Airlines made the loss just a little less painful.
We didn’t hear much about in the news, but on February 23, 2019, Atlas Flight 3591 went down in Texas. The Boeing 767 was transporting goods for Amazon from Miami to Houston and all three pilots onboard perished. One of the pilots, Sean Archuleta, was a Mesa/United Express pilot, who had simply hitched a ride on this flight to get to Houston.
The Pilot Wife Life blog shared the story of Archuleta. Fun-loving and kind. Caring and giving. And also a recent hire of United Airlines. He was set to being his “indoc class” (training) next week, having “graduated” to mainline.
In what can only be described as an incredible gesture, United presented Archuleta’s widow with UAL wings and epaulets during a special in-flight ceremony.
A United pilot, identified as Captain Gunn, shared the account:
An update regarding Captain Sean Archuleta. He was the jumpseat rider on the prime Atlas/Prime Air crash who had a class date to begin at United, this week I believe. I operated flight 1009 to Bogota on Friday March 1st. Prior to heading to the airport, I was contacted by the IAH Chief Pilot and informed that his widow would be on our flight returning to Colombia where she currently lives. He asked if I could deliver a package to her from United. Of course I agreed to help in any way that I could. United had her booked in First Class and escorted her to the Polaris Club before the flight with plans for a personal escort to the airplane for departure. I coordinated to have her escorted to the plane and be in her seat about 5 minutes prior to general boarding. His wife Titania speaks only Spanish and although I speak some Spanish it’s definitely not conversational. I offered my condolences on behalf of United Airlines and all United pilots. The circumstances were difficult especially considering that I had never met her. I delivered a stack of condolence cards form both United and Mesa Airlines (his current employer) as well as a set of United wings and Epaulets. She was a very lovely lady but she broke down when I gave her the wings/epaulets. It was clearly very emotional for her to receive the wings. However, I could tell that she was very moved and it meant a great deal to her. Through the interpretation of the flight attendant, she told me that she would save these for her children to see and so that they would know that he was a United pilot. I simply said that it would have been a pleasure and and honor to fly with her husband. She thanked me and told me that United had been very good to her and that she was grateful for their support. It appears that United stepped up and treated her with respect and helped an already tragic situation.
But United took it one step even further. On March 12th, Archuleta’s United training would have begun. United will leave his seat empty in honor of him.
CONCLUSION
Having served in the military, I understand how close-knit relationships can be that are united by a common uniform. The same is true in the airline industry. Here, United Airlines took the classy step of honoring a “brother” even though his work had not yet begun. It’s a touching reminder that life is fleeting but love and compassion are real.
image: The Pilot Wife Life // H/T: reader 121Pilot
Damn you, Matthew. I seem to have something in my eye.
Matthew,
I’m a retired flight attendant from Continental/United.
I Red your story “ a Very Classy Move by United”
I forwarded it to other flight attendants.
I chocked up the first time I Red it & later red it again. It brought tears to my eyes.
All the time I read bad things about United along with other airlines & even though I’m retired now, I take them personally. To read something so heartfelt & beautiful touched my heart & made me proud of the industry I worked in for 30 years.
Thank you so much for writing it.
I would totally be ok with such symbolic gestures for cops if instead they gave up their pensions.
Instead they have pensions, life insurance and shut down the highway in some fancy dress show when the terrible thing happens. Doesn’t the grieve in private apply to cops?
I know this is going to sound stupid, but every time my partner’s had to do line traning etc it has needed to be delivered in pairs (as each pilot needs a copilot in the sim etc). So if they’re not filling his spot on the course, are they pulling someone else off it, or putting an extra instructor, or are they literally just leaving an empty chair in the room (“not filling his seat”)?
Not stupid at all. I do believe it will just be an extra desk/chair for him, sort of like the MIA table at military banquets.
Great post.
Stay classy United.
As a member of the brotherhood of professional pilots let me say Bravo United. In the end this was but a very small gesture but it was also one with deep meaning.
The news may have forgotten the crew of Atlas 3591 but I assure you this incident remains front and center in the minds of the professional pilot community.
And Bravo to Matthew for sharing this story. United deserves a lot of credit for their actions.
It’s sad that is what it takes to be treated with some respect by a United States Airline.
Exactly what I was thinking. Unless you have a spouse that is dead, you are pretty much trash to them.
Wow, I am really hoping that this was said in haste. To compare yourself as a passenger from Des Moines to Chicago (or wherever) to this circumstance and expect the same is, my god, misplaced at the best. You should both be ashamed and learn the meaning of respect.
Very classy and apt gesture indeed. Thanks for sharing the story Matthew.
Hello Matthew,
I have been following you for few years on your blogs. This is really a heart warming post. Heart goes out to Archuleta’s family. Kudos to United for a wonderful gesture.
I am an United 1Million Miler and have been 1K for the last 8yrs. United gets lot of bad press with few folks at the company who don’t get the definition of customer service right. But, the majority of employees are good or exceptionally good human beings.
Here’s my story. 4 yrs ago, my father in law passed in India. My wife and two boys were on the 15hr flt (coach) from EWR to BOM. As you can imagine, my wife was not in the best state. The flight was probably 80% booked. After we got in the flight, one of the flight attendants came to say hello to myself and few of the 1K/Global service passengers on the flight. She asked me if I was going to India on pleasure or business. When she learnt the reason, she immediately got into action. She went and offered alternate better seats to two of the passengers, cleared an entire row of 3 seats in economy plus. She came back with pillows/blankets and asked my wife to take complete rest with the entire row that she cleared up. We were speechless.
I always make it a point to write to United about great service. With the extenuating circumstances on the personal front, I never was able to make a note of the flight attendant’s name. But, I remember her so well and hoping to see her on one of the flights soon to personally thank her one more time.
My family and I have great memories of United. But, this is probably the most endearing and touching experience for us..
Best regards
Your story is also beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Perfect example of the old adage, a broken clock is right twice a day…
Marty – Curious and scratching my friend. Are you referring this to United, the blogger or I?
Please lets be nice to each other my friend especially with the loss of the Pilot..
This is a great story. Thank you.
I’ve been watching the news about this crash and cannot understand how callous some of the comments on here are. This is a deeply sad time for that family and United did what they could to make things easier, and to honor a lost pilot. If you cannot see this for what it is- a genuine, under the radar, kind gesture by United, then I suggest you keep your mouth shut and your rude comment to yourself. Or didn’t your mother teach you manners?